<table border="1" class="gamePreview"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="center" colspan="2"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"><font size="3">When:</font> December 11th, 2007 @ 7:00pm EST <font size="3">Where:</font> Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA <font size="3">TV/Radio:</font> The SCORE, FAN 590</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="center"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"> </font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d"><font size="4">Toronto Raptors</font> (11-10)</font></p> </p> </td> <td class="center"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"> </font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#ce364f"><font face="Verdana"><font size="4">Atlanta Hawks</font> </font><font face="Verdana">(10-10)</font></font></p> </p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4 align="center"><font size="4" face="Tahoma" color="#000000"><center>PROJECTED STARTERS</center></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="roster"> <td> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font> <font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">TJ Ford - Anthony Parker </font><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Jamario Moon - Chris Bosh - Rasho Nesterovic </font><font color="#b90456"><font face="Verdana"> <font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font></font></font></p> </td> <td> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font> <font face="Verdana"><font size="2"><font color="#ce364f">Anthony Johnson - Joe Johnson Marvin Williams - Josh Smith - Al Horford</font> </font> </font><font color="#ce364f"><font face="Verdana"><font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font></font></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font size="4" face="Tahoma" color="#000000"><center>SEASONS STATS</center></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="seasonStats"> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Scoring:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">98.9PPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Field Goal %:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">45.3 %</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">3-Point %</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">43.5 %</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Rebounds:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">41.0 RPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Assists:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">23.1 APG</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">Scoring:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">93.2PPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">Field Goal %:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">43.9 %</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">3-Point %:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">30.7 %</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">Rebounds:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">41.1 RPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">Assists:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">19.5 APG</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font size="4" face="Tahoma" color="#000000"><center>TEAM LEADERS</center></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="seasonStats"> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Points:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Bosh (18.9 PPG)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Rebounds:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Bosh (8.0 RPG)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Assists:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#c8362d">Calderon (7.6 APG)</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">Points:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">J. Johnson (20.7 PPG)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">Rebounds:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">Horford (10.3 RPG)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">Assists:</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana" color="#ce364f">J. Johnson(5.3 APG)</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana"><center><font size="4" face="Tahoma" color="#000000">KEY MATCHUP</font></center> <center><font color="#c8362d">Jamario Moon</font> <font color="#000000">vs.</font> <font color="#ce364f">Josh Smith </font></center></font></h4> <center><font face="Verdana"></font></center><font face="Verdana"> Its nice to give love to Jamario as he returns to his home as an NBA starter, but truthfully, he will play a big part in tonight's game. Guarding McGrady, Moon showed that he still has a ways to go to becoming a great all-around defender. However, there's no denying that his athleticism and length makes him particularly effective against similarly athletic players. And the Hawks are chalk full of those players. Josh Smith can impact the game in so many ways and if Jamario doesn't get in his face, he will run wild.</font></td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font size="4" face="Tahoma" color="#000000"><center>PREDICTION</center></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="prediction"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana">Atlanta came off an impressive win against Orlando last night, but that might make this game easier for Toronto. The team seemed to regain its form in the second half against Houston and they've got a team coming on the tail end of a back-to-back. And on top of that, Andrea Bargnani should be back in the lineup and that just improves our already strong bench.</font></p> <font size="4" face="Verdana"><center><font color="#c8362d">Raptors win 102</font><font color="#000000">-</font><font color="#ce364f">94</font></center></font></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p>
<div align="center"><font size="4"><u>Something to look at while you wait for the game... </u></font></div>
The Ghosty Whisperer! Sexy.</p> I'm looking forward to this one, as the past few games I've missed or only listened to them on the radio. I'm home tonight and sick as a dog so crawling into bed and watching a game is exactly what the doctor ordered and will suit me fine.</p>
We got the win, but I would've taken a loss if it meant we could've come out of it healthy. Friggin' hell. Kapono with the sprained wrist and who knows what's wrong with TJ. What an absolutely stupid foul by Horford. I just pray its nothing too serious. We've seen the stretcher way too many times over the last two seasons.</p>
Good:</p> - The team consistently played great defense. Aside from a couple spurts in the first and third quarter, they limited the Hawks to contested shots and really were switching well. Parker did a solid job on Johnson and Jamario redeemed himself by absolutely shutting down Josh Smith. - Chris Bosh had another solid all around game. I would've liked a bit more driving, but Atlanta was doubling hard and he found other ways to be effective (specifically, great rebounding). - TJ Ford was our best player today and he really seemed to shake off that rust. He took control of the game when we weren't hitting open shots and made some beautiful passes. Matter of fact, our point guard play today was especially good. Although TJ played better, both of them were great. Bad:</p> - Obviously, we have to mention the injuries. Kapono went out with a sprained wrist. I didn't get to see that play, but they mentioned that the X-rays were negative, so that's at least a little positive. Calderon might've dislocated his finger and even though he came back, we don't know how this will affect him in the future (especially since its looking like he'll be playing heavy minutes in the future). And most importantly, TJ Ford was victimized because of a dumbass play by Al Horford. I have no idea how serious that'll be, but it was a scary moment.</p> - Bargnani came back, but he was a nonfactor and looked tentative (I'm chalking it up to rust). He was blocked on one play and it made him look pretty unathletic. I'm sure other people picked up things that I missed.</p>
He more than slapped his head.</p> He pretty much pushed TJ's head down, while TJ was coming up, so it forced TJ to fall head first, and he hit his head on the floor pretty hard.</p> TJ? Come back next game, please .</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>ATLANTA (AP) -- T.J. Ford's teammates said the Toronto Raptors guard was moving before he was taken off the court on a stretcher following a scary fall late in Tuesday night's 100-88 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.</p> Ford, who missed the 2004-05 season with Milwaukee following neck surgery, stole the ball and was headed toward a breakaway basket when Atlanta rookie Al Horford hit his face with his hand. Ford landed hard on his back, his head bouncing off the floor.</p> "After a while I could see him moving and that was a relief," Toronto's Chris Bosh said, adding there was immediate concern about Ford because everyone knew his injury history.</p> "It turns my stomach because of who it is," Bosh said. "Like I say, we know about his situation and everything.</p> "He was conscious. He wasn't trying to move too much. I'm sure he was feeling pain in his arms and legs. I just hope he's OK." </p> Raptors spokesman Jim LaBumbard confirmed Ford "had feeling in his upper and lower extremities when he was taken off the floor." </p> Ford was taken to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. Raptors director of basketball operations Marc Eversley and assistant trainer Rory Mullin were with him at the hospital. </p> LaBumbard said it was expected Ford would remain at the hospital through the night.</div></p> <div align="center"><u>Source</u>: Yahoo!Sports</div>
ESPN video with Ford getting hitting in the head by Horford</p> sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage</p>
Thanks for the vid link, Lava. Wow, they never showed the closeup of him crying in agony on our broadcast. I just pray that he's alright.</p>
They crying really made me feel the pain, it must of hurt so much, I can't even imagine. My prayers are with Ford...</p>
Man, im hoping he comes back soon but seeing the footage over and over again and then seeing him cry its hard to believe this will be a speedy recovery.</p>
Sam was on the radio today and said that TJ's doing better at the hospital. He was pretty confident that TJ would be back this season (although I never thought it was that serious). Apparently Horford visited him at the hospital. I definitely don't think Al meant to do that to TJ but that was an idiotic play on his part.</p>
I know everyone is saying this is unintentional, but that's definately not the impression i got after watching the replay. Sure he probably didn't want to injure him, but he looked to be trying to dish out a hard foul, there was always a chance something was going to happen.</p> Send Rasho out there to club him a few times just like we did to what's his name last year.</p>
